Lifeboat system



Jan. 26, 1932. B STRAUSS 1,842,572

LIFEBOAT SYSTEM Filed Jan. 8. 191.50 6 Sheets-Sheet l i @um Jam. 269w32. J. B. STR/mss LIFEBOAT SYSTEM Filed Jan. 8, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 2Jamey) Jan. 26, 1932.

J. B. sTRAuss LIFEBOAT SYSTEM Filed Jan. 8, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 3fango/2,6. J'az/JJ @4.1M Tn,

Jan. 26 1932. J. B. sTRAuss` LIFEBOT SYSTEM Filed Jan. 8. 1950 6Sheets-Sheet 4 flle/3%# @5e/077 fi lf'll WML Y@ @j M1126, 1932. J. B.s'rRAuss LIFEBOAT SYSTEM Filed Jan. 8, 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 VIIIILJima. 26 1932. J, B. sTRAUss LIFEBOAT SYSTEM Filed Jan. 8. 19150 6Sheets-Sheet 6 /furlllzul l 1| l I lc Patented Jan. 2.6, i932 TENTOFFICE JOSEPH B. STRAUSE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS LIFEBOAT SYSTEMApplication filed January 8, 1930.

This invention relates to lite boat systems and has for its object toprovide a new and improved system ol this description. The

ordinary lite boat arrangement at present is t to have 'the lite boat onthe deck of the ves sel and to then lower the boat into the water at theside of the vessel when it becomes necessary to use the life boat. Instormy water this is a ditlicult process and oztten re l suits in theloss of lille.

My present invention has as one of its objects to provide a lite boatsystem which will avoid these diliiculties and by .means of whichpassengers on a large vessel can be easily and quickly loaded onto theboats and the boats released `without delay and without danger to thepassengers.

The invention has as a further object to provide life boat-s which shallbe kept in re cesses in the side ot' the vessel when not in use andwhich can easily and quicklybe illed with passengers.

The invention has further objects 'which are more particularly pointedout in the accompanying description.

Referring now to the drawings. Fig. l is a side elevation of a shipshowing the life boat in position in a recess therein.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the vessel shown .in Fig. l with parts brokenaway to show the life boat. Y

F ig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the lite boat released.

Fig. 4 is a side View of the vessel with parts broken away showing themeans of access to the lite boat :trom the exterior of the vessel.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged side View of the vessel with parts broken awayshowing the life boat in position in the recess and the surroilndingconstruction.

Fig. 6 is a sectional View on line G-G of Fig. l. Fig. 7 anenlargedsectional view with parts broken away on line 7 7 of Fig. l.

Serial No. 419,238.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional View ytaken on line 8-8 of Fig. 5.

9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing the lite boat fastening mechanism'released.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken online fill) l()-l0 of Fig'. 5.

Fig. l1 is an enlarged sectional view through the controlling mechanismfor the door at the side ofthe Vessel which closes the recess containinglthe lite boat.

Fig. l2 is a View similar to Fig. l1 with parts omitted and showing themechanism in a diiierent position.

Fig. 13 is a sectional View taken on line 153-13 of Fig. 11. i

`Lilie numerals refer to like parts through out 'the several iigures.

Jteerring now to the drawings, -I have shown a vessel which may be ofany suitable description such as a large passenger vessel. .fin

This vessel is provided at its side with one or more recesses 2. Eachrecess contains a life boat 3. Since the recesses and life boats are allsimilar, I have only shown one for purposes of illustration. 'll

These life boats may be of any suitable size but when used with largevessels are preferably large boats operated by their own power. It onlyone life boat is used, it may be large enough to seat all the people onthe f4" vessel.

lf desired, one or inoreof these life boats may be placed on each sideof the Vessel and in that event they may be smaller, it desired. When anumber of these lite boats are used, `they should be of such size as toseat all the passengers and the crew, the purposejof the system being toprovide in one, two or more life beats an arrangement for all thepassengers and crew so that the entire ship load 89 can be easily andquickly and safely removed from the vessel. The liie boats `when not inuse, ride upon `the water within the recesses in the side ofthe vesseland are detachably connected so that they may be instantly released.

These boats are preferably non-sinkable with closed tops, wirelessinstruments and the like so that when released they are independent ofthe vessel and under full control. One or more officers of the vesselmay be delegated for a permanent station on each life boat. T here is adoor for the recess. in which each each life boat is received whichconforms t'o the exterior of the vessel so that the appear ance of thevessel is not altered. Meansmay be provided for loading the life boatsfrom within the vessel or by means of ladders -or the like from theexterior Aof the vessel. The recess in the vessel is of such height thatwhen the life boat is therein, it will ride upon the Water so that whenreleased all that must be done is to move it laterally out of therecess.

Referring now to Figs. 8, 9 and 10, wherein I have shown one forni` ofconstruction embodying the invention, the recess 2 is provided with adoor 4, which is normally closed and which conforms to the contour ofthe eX- terior of the vessel. The inner wall 5 of the recess .2 is, ofcourse, water tight. Y Some means is provided for holding this doorclosed and for quickly opening it and moving it Vout of the kway of thelife boat so that the `life boat maybe quickly launched.

In the drawings I have illustrated one mechanism for this purpose. Inthis construction the door is pivotally connected with a carriage 6 bymeans of the pivot 7 This carriage ismounted between the guides 8 and 9and is provided with rollers 10 which run along these guides. (See Figs.7 and 8.) The carriage 6 carrying the door with it is run .back andforth along the guides by some suitable mechanism. As herein shown thecarriage hasconnected with it a rack 11 wbichis engaged by a vpinion 12on a shaft 13. A sleeve 14 surrounds the shaft 13 and is provided with aworm 15 engaged by a worm gear 16 .on a shaft 17. Associated with ashaft 13 is a clutch member 18 feathered to the shaft and which engagesa clutch member 19 on the sleeve 14.

The clutch member 18 is controlled by the forked member 20. YA cam 21 isconnected with the shaft 17 and is provided with a cam face 22 which atthe proper time engages the member 2O so as to move the clutch member 18to disconnect it from the clutch member 19. A spring 23 ret-racts themember 20 when the cam face 22 is not engaging it so as to move theclutch member 18 into engagement with the clutch member 19. The cam 21isyalso provided with a cam slot 24 in which works a projection 25 onthe arm 26. This arm has connected with it a member 27 which is attachedto a crank 28 on a shaft 29. (See Figs. 10, 12, and 13.) This shaft isprovided with a holdingpiece 3() having a groove 31 in which is receivedthe end 32 of the door 4, as clearly shown in Fig. 8. When the shaft 17is rotated, the cam 21 causes the arm 26 to be moved downwardly so as torotate the shaft 21 to release the bottom of the door 4. The door isthen moved laterally out of the way of the life boat by rotating theshaft 13, the gear 12 moving the rack 11 and carriage 6 along the guides9 and 10 to the position sho-wn in Fig. 5 and in dotted lines in Figs. 6and 7. The 'shaft may be rotated by fa suitable motor. Means is alsoprovided for rotating this shaft on the outside of the vessel. This isaccomplished by means 4of the hand wheel 33 on the shaft 34 which has aspindle wheel l35 'over which passes a belt 36 which also passes over aspindle wheel 37 on the shaft 13. (See Fig. 10).

Some means is provided for holding the life boat 3 in position while inthe recess 2. As herein shown this is accomplished by the holdingdevices 38 at each end of the life boat. These holding devices have armswhich hook over projections 39. The arms are pivoted at 40 and haveracks 41 which enga-ge pinions 42 on the shaft 43 which extends acrossfrom one end of the life boat to the other, as clearly shown in Fig. 5.The shaft 43 is rotated in any suitable manner as by means of a handwheel 44 connected with a shaft 45v having thereon a worm 46 whichengages a worm wheel 47 on the shaft. This shaft may be also rotatedfrom within the life boat by the hand wheel 46a.

By rotating the shaft 43, it will be seen that the holding device 37 maybe lifted to disengage the projections 39 and release vthe life boat.The door 4 may be opened from within the life boat by means of a handwheel 48 which actuates-a shaft 49 with which is connected a belt 50,the belt being connected with the shaft 13 soV that when the hand Wheel48 is turned, the shaft 13 will be rotated and the holding device 30released and the door 4 moved out of the way.l Access from the interiorof the vessel to the life boat is secured through the hatchway 51. (Fig.7 Some means is provided for resiliently holding the life boat in itsrecess so it will not be knocked about to become injured and this mea-nsmust be easily releasabl y In the construction shown, this result issecured by providing a series of spring pressed rollers 52. The lifeboat may be engaged by the spring pressed rollers 56 which are connectedby ,springs 57 with the top of the recess 2. Access to the life boat maybe had from the exterior of the vessel by means of the ladders 58 and 59which are pivotally suspended near the deck and which can be lowered, asillustrated in Fig. 5 so that the passengers can pass down into .thelife boat.v I have shown the life boat as being providedwvith apropeller 60 and arudder 61. The propeller is driven by any suitablepower agency located within the life boat. The recess in the ship hasafportion above and a portion below the water lineand in Figures 8, 9,and I have shown the water line by the line 62.

The use and operation of my invention is as toliows.

Under normal conditions, the lite boats are within the recesses Q andthe doors 4 are closed, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 8, and 10. llVhen it isdesir'ed to use `the lite boats, the passengers may be delivered theretofrom the interior of the vessel through the hatchways 51. When the boatis ready to be released, the hand wheel 411 or 46c may be rotated so asto move the holding devices 38 to release them trom the projections 39.The door 4 may then be opened by turning` the hand wheel 33 whichactuates the shaft 49 and belt 50 which is connected with sleeve 14 soas to drive it. This first releases the bottom ot the` door byrotatingthe cam 21 so as to cause the p1'ojec. tion 25 and the member 26to be moved upwardly so that the part 27 causes the shaft 29 to rotateto move the holding` piece 30 to disconnect the bottom oi the door, asshown in Fig'. 9. When the door is properly disconnected, the high part22 ot the cam 21 becomes disengaged 'from the member 20 and the spring-23 moves said member so as to engage clutch members 18 and 19 (Fig. 11).The further movement oi the hand wheel then rotates shaft 13 and pinion12 and bv means ot rack 11 moves the carriage 6 laterally aloneitsguides 9 and 10 thus carrying the door 4t to the lett, as shown in Fig.5 and in dotted lines in Figs. G and 7.

This moves the door to one side of the recess so that the lite boat 3which is riding upon the water, is free to move out away from thevessel. It it becomes desirable to have the passengers enter the liteboat by means of the ladders 58 and 59, the door 4 is iii-st moved toone side and this may be accomplished by turning;r the hand wheel 33 onthe exterior of the vessel. This, by means ot shaft 34 and belt 3Grotates the sleeve 14 on the shatt 13 so as to rotate cam 21 in the samemanner as is done by turning' the hand wheel 48. The ladders 58 and 59are then lowered, as shown in Fig. 5 and the passengers admitted to thelife boat through the openings 55. The boat then is released byturningthe hand wheel 46a `vhich moves the holding devices 38 anddisconnects them from the projections 39. The boat is then driven by itsown power away trom the vessel to a point of safety. It will be seenthat by means of this system, large life boats may be used which willhold a large number of people and which can be driven by its own powersafely, through rough seas. It will further be seen that these liteboats can be easily and quickly and safely launched or operated from themain vessel and this can be done regardless ot stormy conditions or highWaves or the like.

I claim l. In a life boat system, a ship, a power boat associatedtherewith, said ship being lprovided with a recess in its side at thewater line, said boat located in said recess and nor` mally in the waterwithin said recess, the outer face of the litt boat when in said recessbeing within the boundaries .ot said ship.

2. In a lite boat system, a ship, a power boat associated therewith,said ship having` a recess in its side at the water line, said boatriding' the water within said recess, a holdingI device for holding theboat within said recess, the outer face of the lite boat when in said.recess being within the boundaries ot said ship when not in service,releasing mechanism connected with said holding device for releasingithe lite boat while it is floating in the water, said releasinglmechanism controlled from the ship whereby the boat may be quicklydetached for operation independently of the ship.

3. In a lite boat system, a ship, a power boat associated therewith,said ship having` a recess in its side at the water line, said boatriding the water Within the said recess, the outer face ot the lite boatwhen in said recess being` within the boundaries of said ship, a holdingdevice for holding the boatwithin said recess when not in service,releasing mechanism connected with said holding `de vice tor releasingthe lite boat while it is lioatinp; in the water, said releasing,`device controlled from the ship and from the boat `whereby the boat maybe quickly detached for operation independently of the ship.

4l. `In a life boat system, a ship, a power boat associated therewith,said ship provided with a recess in its side at the water line, saidboat riding, thewater within said recess and a cover over said recess toenclose said boat when not in service.

In a liteboat system., a ship, a power boat associated therewith, saidship having a recess in its side at the water line, said boat riding`the water within said recess and a cover over said recess to enclosesaid boat when not in service, and means for automatically releasingsaid cover with the release ot the boat.

6. In a life boat system, a ship, a power boat associated therewith,said ship having.;l a `recess in its side a portion of which extendsabove and a portion below the water line, said boat riding the waterwithin said recess so as to be free to float out away from the ship whenreleased, a ladder pivoted to the ship near the deck and adapted to bemoved to permit access to said boat trom the deck.

7. In a lite boat system, a ship, a power boat associated therewith,said ship having,` a recess in its side at the water line, said boatriding` the water within said recess, a cover over said recess toenclose said boat, said cover, when in its closed position, being in theplane ot the side ot the ship.

8..fA lite boat Lsystem comprising' a ship provided with a recess which`has a portion extending below the water line and a portion extendingabove the water line, a life boat in said recess, a door for said recesswhich has an outer surface which corresponds with the outer surface ofthe ship.

9. A life boat system comprising a ship provided with a recess which'hasa portion extending below the water line and a portion extending abovethe water line, a life boat in said recess, a door for said recess,holding means for holding said door in position and a releasing devicefor releasing said door.

10. A life boat system comprising aship provided with a recess which hasa portion eX- tending below the water line and a portion extending abovethe water line, a life boat in said recess, a door for said recess,holding means for holding said door in position, a releasing device forreleasing said door and a. carriage upon which said door is supportedwhen released so that it may be moved to one side to free the boat.

11. A life boat system comprising la ship provided with a recess whichlas a portion extending below the water line anda portion extendingabove the water-line, a life boat in said recess, a door for saidrecess, holding devices ateach end of the boat for holding it inposition and means for releasing said holding devices. .Y Y

12. A life boat. system comprising a ship provided with a' recess whichhas a portion extending below the water line and a portion extendingabove the water line, a life boat in said recess, a door for saidrecess, holding devices at each-end of the/boatfor holding it inposition, means for yreleasing said holding devices, and cushioningmeans interposed between the boat `and the wall of the recess.

13. A life boat system comprising a ship, provided with a recess atitsside part of which is below the waterY line, a lifeboat in saidrecess, a door for the recess forprotecting the life boat, a fasteningdevice for holding said door and means operable from either within orwithout the ship for operating said fastening device.

14. A life boat system comprising a ship provided with a recess at itsside part of which is below the water line, alife boat in said recess, adoor for the recess for protecting the life boat, a fastening device forholding said door, means operable from either Within er without theshipfor operating said fastening device, a movable carriage upon whichsaid door is supported and means for moving said carriage laterally toopen or close the door. Y

15. A life boat system comprising a ship provided'with a recess at itsside part of which is below the water line, a life boat in said recess,a door for the recess for protecting the life boat, a `fastening devicefor holding said door, means koperable from either JOSEPH B. STRAUSS.

